Lusitanian Flora

Iveragh’s Mysterious Plants

Wildlife enthusiasts have long visited the Iveragh peninsula to explore the rich tapestry of plant life found across this rugged region. The diverse plants of Iveragh are beautiful in many ways, but there is one group that really stands out. The Lusitanian flora are not related to one another; but instead get their collective name from the region of north-western Spain and Portugal from which they originated. In some parts of Ireland, like the Iveragh peninsula, these Mediterranean species have made a new home. How exactly they got here, and why they skipped the island of Great Britain remains a subject of debate. Let’s explore some of the iconic and visually stunning Lusitanian species in this article.

The Strawberry Tree / Caithne

The Lusitanian flora of the Iveragh peninsula vary in size, shape, colour, and smell. The tallest of them is the strawberry tree (Caithne, as gaeilge, or Arbutus unedo, in Latin). It is named for the bright red fruits that ripen on its overhead branches. Its Latin name “unedo”, which translates as “I only eat one”, refers to the unappetising taste of the raw fruits. It is associated with copper mining activities around Kerry, and it is thought that the tree was brought here to brew the fruit into alcoholic beverages. Look for strawberry trees along the coastal section of the Mass Loop walk in Derrynane and around Lough Currane in Waterville, where derivatives of its Irish name can be found in local placenames.

Irish Spurge / Bainne caoin

Irish spurge (Bainne caoin, Euphorbia hyberna) is a smaller, herbaceous plant that likes damp woodlands or hedgerows and shaded paths. In spring its fresh green growth is topped by even paler green flowers, which smell of honey. Avoid touching this plant due to its toxicity. The Iveragh peninsula is a hotspot for this plant in southwest Ireland. When you’ve seen it once, you’ll see it everywhere as you walk and cycle around Iveragh.

St Patrick’s cabbage / Cabáiste an mhadra rua

Kidney saxifrage / Mórán giobach

A pair of Lusitanian plants that can be seen all year on rock faces and stone walls, and which are a notable feature of Iveragh’s rainforests, are St Patrick’s cabbage (Cabáiste an mhadra rua), and Kidney saxifrage (Mórán giobach). Despite their names, they are closely related Saxifrages, and often cross breed with one another. There is a period of anticipation in spring, as you start to see their flower stalks rising from their ground-hugging rosette of spoon-shaped leaves. If you see them, count the dots on the flower petals - they vary quite a lot.

Large-flowered butterwort / Leith uisce

The Large flowered butterwort (Leith uisce, Pinguicula grandiflora) is one of the more unusual of this eclectic group of plants. It lives in patches of ground that are low in nutrients, and to supplement this deficiency it catches and consumes insects. Between spring and autumn its sticky vibrant green rosette of tongue-like leaves can be seen peppered with an assortment of insects. More surprising still are the large, purple-lobed flowers which rise to some 20 cm off the ground and contrast with the grasses and sedge that form the dominant textures of late spring.

Kerry lily / Lile Fhíonáin

Last, but not least, is the Kerry lily (Lile Fhíonáin, Simethis mattiazzii); as ephemeral as it is beautiful. You’ll have to get your timing right if you want to see this one. There is a degree of local excitement when the first flowering Kerry lilies are found each year. This can happen anytime between May and July. This plant is found along the edge of Kenmare Bay, but quite how it got there is up for debate. Trade routes between the Mediterranean and Ireland may have brought plant material to Ireland. There is a strong association with smuggling around Kenmare Bay, in areas such as Caherdaniel – which is now the hotspot for the Kerry Lily. This plant is legally protected in Ireland.

Kerry slug / Drúchtín ballach

Bonus animal!

There is also a Lusitanian animal on the Iveragh peninsula. The Kerry spotted slug (drúchtín ballach or Geomalacus maculosus) is found only on the Iberian Peninsula and south-west Ireland. It is the only slug that can curl into a ball when threatened. This slug has two forms depending on where you are in the open, or in the shade of a rainforest. The first kind is dark with contrasting white spots. This is found out in the open, such as on the peatlands of Iveragh. The second form is paler brown and has golden spots. It can be found in our rainforests on damp and misty days where it enjoys feeding on the lichens, mosses, liverworts, and fungi of the forest.

The Lusitanian flora are a special part of Irish wildlife. They have an interesting story that is still being unravelled. The best time to see them is in spring and early summer, when their flowering is at its peak.